Here is a big preview to the PNG Kumuls v Prime Minister's XIII clash at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday with team lists and thoughts on the game.
A big game of international rugby league awaits this Saturday, as the Kumuls get to build on their great performance against Fiji last weekend when they meet the Lions in the PNG Kumuls v Great Britain Test Match from Port Moresby.
PNG Kumuls were super competitive last weekend, some could say a little unlucky, and they have named an even stronger side this weekend.
But the team will need to be stronger, as they are playing a tier 1 side in Great Britain at the National Football Stadium.
Can the Kumuls win? Not on paper, but anything can happen in rugby league, and usually does.
For more, read on with our PNG Kumuls v Great Britain Test preview.
PNG KUMULS v GREAT BRITAIN TEAMS
PNG KUMULS
1 Alex Johnston
2 Edene Gebbie 3 David Mead
4 Justin Olam 5 Stargroth Amean
6 Kyle Laybutt
7 Watson Boas
8 Wellington Albert
9 Wartovo Puara
10 Luke Page
11 Nixon Putt 12 Dan Russell 13 Rhyse Martin
14 Edwin Ipape 15 Garry Lo
16 Stanton Albert 17 Moses Meninga
Changes in bold
GREAT BRITAIN LIONS
1 Jonny Lomax
2 Jermaine McGillvary
3 Jack Hughes
4 Jake Connor
5 Blake Austin
6 Gareth Widdop
7 Jackson Hastings
8 Chris Hill
9 Josh Hodgson
10 Thomas Burgess
11 John Bateman
12 Elliott Whitehead
13 James Graham
14 Josh Jones
15 Luke Thompson
16 Daryl Clark
17 Alex Walmsley
PNG KUMULS v GREAT BRITAIN TEAM NEWS
Good times for the Kumuls who welcome some real firepower into the line up that did so well against Fiji last weekend.
NRL and Super League quality of David Mead returns to the Kumuls side, creating a super partnership in the centres with 2019 breakthrough NRL star Justin Olam. Mead is a proven performer when he dons the Kumuls jersey and his experience will be a real bonus for PNG as they take on stronger opposition this weekend.
As good as David Mead is, we are even more excited about Garry Lo’s return to the Kumuls. Lo is a powerhouse and a try scoring machine. He has crossed for 105 tries in 104 games for the Hunters, Vipers and various English and French clubs below the Super League. And has a handy 5 tries in 7 games for the Kumuls. He is being used as a sub for Saturday’s Test, and he will surely provide real impact off the bench.
Aside from the new new faces, there has been some shuffling of the Kumuls side. Terry Wapi didn’t do much wrong last weekend, but he has been replaced in the side by Stargroth Amean who is promoted off the bench. Dan Russell moves from the centres to the second row, Rhyse Martin moves to lock, which demoted Moses Meninga from the starting side to the bench. This means Enock Maki is demoted to a reserve outside the top 17.
No changes for the Great Britain side that went down to New Zealand 23-8 last weekend.
PNG KUMULS v GREAT BRITAIN – POINTS OF INTEREST
As described above in the team news, the return of David Mead and Garry Lo to the Kumuls team is a real point of interest, both adding plenty of firepower and speed for the Kumuls.
For all of the quality and experience the Great Britain side has, it is fair to say that the 2019 end of season Internationals haven’t been a raging success for the Lions. They have lost twice to New Zealand in their two game series, and Tonga defeated them prior to that. In fact the Lions have only scored 22 points in three games, whereas the PNG Kumuls scored 20 points in the one game against Fiji last weekend. Of course the Lions played stronger opposition than Fiji, but it shows the Lions aren’t in top form at the moment, and possibly vulnerable.
With the game being played at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby, there are two points of interest. The first is hopefully talking about a full, loud stadium, as PNG fans get to show their love for the game and provide a real home ground advantage. Secondly, the Kumuls were a little unlucky with a few crucial 50-50 refereeing calls on the weekend, so hopefully with a loud and proud PNG home crowd, those 50-50 decisions that went against PNG last weekend will go their way this week.
Will we see more of the ad lib football creep into Michael Marum’s side? PNG looked that little bit more dangerous for it against Fiji, and who didn’t enjoy Edwin Ipape’s flick pass in goal.
PNG KUMULS v GREAT BRITAIN – KEY BATTLES
HALVES
This looks like a no contest on paper. How could the Kumuls halves possibly compete with the massively experienced and high quality pairing of Gareth Widdop and Jackson Hastings.
But Great Britain have not been playing especially great, and anyone who watched PNG play last weekend will know that their halves were superior to their Fijian counterparts, and in Kyle Laybutt one of the best on ground for either side.
He bossed the game kicking-wise, and Watson Boas was busy throughout in attack and defence.
But still Gareth Widdop is one great rugby league player, and will be key to the Lions performance.
CANBERRA CONNECTION v KUMULS LACK OF NRL EXPERIENCE
Great Britain are blessed with having three of the best players from the Canberra Raiders, and their NRL experience and form from the Raider’s big season will be invaluable, and a real advantage over the Kumuls. The PNG equivalents in the second row and at hooker are decent though, especially Rhyse Martin who has silky skills, is a powerful runner and is a very underrated goal kicker. Nixon Putt too is in career best form and was good again last weekend. Wartovo Puara looked sharp as ever too from dummy half. But still, the Raiders trio have been at a different level this season, and should be hard to stop this weekend.
LUKE PAGE v TOM BURGESS
Up the middle we are looking forward to seeing Luke Page go up against Tom Burgess. Tom Burgess runs straight and true, and in top form is very hard to stop. Luke Page gives everything in every game, and he ran for a very decent 99 metres in just over 40 minutes in last weekend’s Test v Fiji. Looking forward to the collisions.
WINGS AND CENTRES
With the addition of David Mead and Stargroth Amean, and Edene Gebbie is stunning form, the PNG centres and wingers have more than enough to match Great Britain. Throw in Justin Olam, who was a little quiet last weekend, and they could provide some real headaches for the Lions. Of course nothing wrong with the firepower of the Great Britain side as well, but this is one area where the Kumuls are quite close to the Lions.
PNG KUMULS v GREAT BRITAIN – X FACTOR
EDENE GEBBIE
Anyone who saw last weekend’s game will know what Edene Gebbie could do this weekend, and he could turn it on again this weekend. His speed caught out Fiji on a number of occasions, and he scored one 65m try, and set up another with 30 metre run down the side and throwing the final pass. There was a tiny bit of doubt that he doesn’t quite get involved in the big games (he was quiet in the ISC Grand Final for Wynnum and for the Kumuls against Samoa earlier in the season) but any doubts were smashed after last weekend’s showing.
GARRY LO
We have already discussed Garry Lo, but his impact off the bench will be crucial. He could cause some real problems for the Lions if they start to get tired.
JOHN BATEMAN
Was one of Canberra’s best all season and is a real potential game breaker for the Kumuls on Saturday.
JAMES GRAHAM
If the National Football Stadium is a loud sell-out, then James Graham’s experience of over 400 games in two countries could provide a real bonus for the Lions.
JONNY LOMAX
At the top of a quality Great Britain spine, Lomax had a stand out season for St Helens in their record breaking Super League season. One of the best players in the Super League this season will be hard to stop, Kumuls fringe defence will need to be a bit tighter than against Fiji.
PNG KUMULS v GREAT BRITAIN – PREDICTION – CAN THEY WIN?
The short answer is that they shouldn’t and probably won’t get close. But there are some factors on the Kumuls side for an upset…..
Their side has never looked stronger. They are back playing at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby where they had so much success in the recent World Cup.
Great Britain aren’t playing that well anyway, and they have lost one game to Tonga, and two to the New Zealanders.
But they do lack the big game experience, which is a big worry.
Key to a great performance for PNG is reducing the early penalties and errors. Both the Kumuls and Hunters tend to make slow starts, so the PNG Kumuls need to stay with England, like they did against Fiji, otherwise like proven in the 2017 NRL State Championship, the half time score line could be beyond repair.
As ever the Kumuls goal line defence was mostly impressive against Fiji, and they will need to repeat that again and better it to keep the Lions at bay. The missed tackles were a problem though against Fiji that will hopefully be reduced.
If they can throw the ball around like Old School Hunters, while reducing the errors, then they will be right in this Test Match.
Born and raised on the banks of Yebri Creek, Theydon Bois has always been obsessed by sport.
A stellar career of Underage B sides, RSL Social Golf, C Grade Warehouse and D Grade Indoor Cricket didn’t showcase much talent, but provided a window into the love for any game, any time.
Theydon follows as much as he can and will provide opinion, ideas, and best tips and bets for most sports*.
A particular interest in English Football sees Theydon Bois up every Saturday night until 2am with two laptops, smartphones, IPad and a radio feed of Soccer Saturday.
A lifelong fan of underperforming, mediocre, disappointing teams will not sway his enthusiasm for sport.
*Rugby Union not included.
